Arlen SPECTER

(1930- )

Senate Years of Service:

1981-2011

Party:

Republican; Democrat

SPECTER, Arlen, a Senator
from Pennsylvania; born in Wichita, Sedgwick County, Kans.,
February 12, 1930; attended the public schools; graduated,
University of Pennsylvania 1951; graduated, Yale University Law
School 1956; served in the United States Air Force 1951-1953;
admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 1956 and commenced practice in
Philadelphia; assistant district attorney of Philadelphia
1959-1964; assistant counsel, President’s Commission on the
Assassination of President Kennedy (Warren Commission) 1964;
district attorney of Philadelphia 1966-1974; resumed the practice
of law 1974-1980; admitted to the New Jersey bar in 1979 and to the
District of Columbia bar in 1983; elected as a Republican to the
United States Senate in 1980; reelected in 1986, 1992, 1998 and in
2004; changed party affiliation, becoming a Democrat on April 30,
2009; unsuccessful candidate for renomination to the Senate in
2010, and served from January 3, 1981, to January 3, 2011; chair,
Select Committee on Intelligence (One Hundred Fourth Congress),
Committee on Veterans Affairs (One Hundred Fifth and One Hundred
Sixth Congresses, One Hundred Seventh Congress [January 20,
2001-June 6, 2001], One Hundred Eighth Congress), Committee on the
Judiciary (One Hundred Ninth Congress).

Bibliography

Specter, Arlen, with Frank J. Scaturro. Never Give In: Battling
Cancer in the Senate. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2008.
Specter, Arlen. Passion for Truth: From Finding JFK’s
Single Bullet to Questioning Anita Hill to Impeaching Clinton.
New York: William Morrow, 2000.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present